A grassroots political uprising is unfolding in Gundagai as anger over forced council mergers refuses to die.
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It come after the state government effectively wiped the region’s proudest and oldest communities from the map in May and dissolved elected councils to make way for government-appointed administrators.
Gundagai businessman and former member of the Nationals’ state executive John Knight has revealed the Save Gundagai Shire protest group intends to unseat Cootamundra MP Katrina Hodgkinson at the next state election in two years.
While Ms Hodgkinson was lauded for rejecting her own government’s greyhound ban at the expense of her career progression, critics claim she should have shown the same courage when local councils were on the chopping block.
“Katrina Hodgkinson went through the motions of representing us in the amalgamation process, but she didn't put heart and soul into it,” Mr Knight said.
“We just wish she represented the vast majority of her constituents fighting mergers like she fought against the greyhound ban.”
Mr Knight was coy about who would challenge, other than to say the shortlist included a “professional woman in her mid-30s with three children”, a “professional man in his 50s” and two “eager and interested young 20-somethings”.
“The candidate will have strong community support and considerable financial backing,” he said.
Mr Knight spearheaded a 90-strong protest at the federal election with placards that read “Stop council mergers – put Nationals last” and “RIP to democracy”, which contributed to a 23 per cent two party preferred swing to Labor at Gundagai polling booths.
“We showed then we could damage the National party,” he said.
In a similar political campaign running on anti-merger anger, Scott Munroe has turned his back on the country party and is attempting to oust the Nationals in next month’s Orange by-election.
While Mr Munroe thought Ms Hodgkinson’s strong stand on greyhound racing would neutralize a challenge, he applauded the forced merger reprisal.
“The National Party has become a puppet of the Liberal Party and we’re not getting a fair go,” Mr Munroe said.
Mr Munroe is banking on support from the former Cabonne Shire, which was forcibly merged.